Carrying device for containers



E. 0. THEN CARRYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS March 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Dec. 23, 1955 INVENTOR.

EDWARD 0. THEN ATTORNEYS March 24, 1959 O H N 2,878,930

CARRYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS I Filed Dec. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

EDWARD 0. THEN BY fxuaz 9 ATTORNEYS United States Patent CARRYING DEVICEFOR CONTAINERS Edward 0. Then, Newark, NJ., assignor to American CanCompany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationDecember 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,042 18 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) Thepresent invention relates generally to devices for carrying a pluralityof containers and the like in a juxtaposed relation as. a unitarypackage and has particular reference to such a device having a snap-ongripper element for clamping engagement over a laterally projectingledge of the containers for tying the containers together.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of a carrying devicewhich is readily snapped or clamped over adjacent laterally projectingperipheral ledges of a pair of juxtaposed rectangular containers forsecuring the containers together so that they may be readily carried asa unitary package and yet may be easily separated by the consumer forindividual use.

Another object is the provision of such a carrying device which iseasily manufactured with a minimum of material and at a minimum cost andwhich may be readily applied to the containers.

Another object is the provision of such a carrying device which may bereadily clamped over lapped side seam sections of the containers to tiethem together in a unitary package.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a pair of juxtaposed containers tiedtogether with a carrying device embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying device shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along avertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, the view showing thedevice applied to a pair of containers as shown in Fig. 1, thecontainers being shown in section and having portions broken away;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of thedevice;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing asecond modified form of carrying device applied to the containers;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially alonga plane indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying device shown inFig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in end elevation of the carrying device ofFig. 7 as applied to the containers as shown in Fig. 5, with portions ofthe containers being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a third modified form of thecarrying device;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figs. 1 and 5,showing the carrying device illustrated in Fig. 9 attached to thecontainers;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in end elevation of the carrying device ofFig. 9 as applied to the containers as shown in Fig. 10, with portionsof the containers being broken away and shown in section; and

Patented Mar. 24, 1959 Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of ahandle used in the carrying device illustrated in Fig. 9.

As .a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention Figs.1, 2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate a carrying device or carrier A forcarrying a pair of fibre milk containers B disposed in juxtaposedrelation as a unitary package. The containers B preferably are of thecharacter disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979 issued July 6,1937 to John M. Hothersall on Container.

Such a container comprises a rectangular body having flat side walls Ewhich at their upper ends are formed with necked-in portions F and animmediately adjacent outwardly or laterally projecting peripheral endseam or ledge G surrounding and securing a flat top member H in place onthe body. The end seam or ledge G along its upper inner edges overlapsthe top member H 'and extends above the top member in a sharp or abruptstep or shoulder K.

In the justaposed relation of the containers B, two side walls E aredirectly opposite each other in substantially contiguous relation asshown in Fig. 1. The portions of the ledges G for these side wallsextend transversely of the package and are substantially coincident. Theimmediately connecting portions of the ledges G, disposed at rightangles to the ends of the transverse ledge portions, extend along thetwo long outer edges of the package in continuing or endwise alignmentand are termed the outer longitudinally aligned ledge portions.

The carrying device A, in its preferred form as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and3, comprises a vertically disposed or upstanding handle 21 having a pairof spaced gripper elements or members 22 secured to its lower edge. Thehandle 21 preferably is made of heavy paper or cardboard although othersuitable materials may be used, and is produced from a rectangular blankfolded back on itself to provide two contiguous layers 23, 24 having afinger opening 25 for carrying purposes. The fold in the handlepreferably is disposed along its top edge. The marginal edge portions ofthe layers 23, 24 adjacent the bottom edge of the handle are bentoutwardly in opposite directions to produce a pair of laterallyextending flanges 26, 27 which extend the full length of the handle.

The gripper elements 22 preferably are made of sheet metal, such as tinplate, black iron, aluminum, plastic or other suitable material. Eachgripper element 22 preferably comprises a pair of U-shaped channelmembers arranged in juxtaposed relation and having oppositely directed,horizontally disposed upper legs 31 (Fig. 3) and similarly directed andhorizontally disposed lower legs 32. The upper and lower legs 31, 32 areconnected by spaced and parallel vertical wall members 33. These twolower leg members of each gripper element 22 are connected together toform a unitary structure by a bottom wall section 34 which extendsbeneath the lower horizontal legs 32 in vertically spaced relationthereto and connects with the outer edges thereof. The spaced verticalwall sections 33 and the bottom wall section 34 and the adjacent lowerlegs 32 disposed in spaced relation thereto thus set oif or enclose aninverted T-shaped opening for the reception of the bottom portion of thehandle 21 and its two oppositely extending horizontal lateral flanges26, 27 as shown in Fig. 3.

When the gripper elements 22 are applied to a pair of juxtaposedcontainers B as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lower legs 32 of theoppositely extending U-shaped channel member of the gripper elements aredisposed in the transverse necked-in portions F of the containers andengage beneath the adjacent laterally projecting transverse containerledge portions G to support the weight of the containers. The verticalwall sections 33 of the gripper members extend up between the coincidentor transverse container ledges G and the upper legs 31 of the membersextend laterally over the top of and in engagement with the top faces ofsuch transverse ledge portions. The outer edges of the upper legs 31preferably are bent or curled under to provide hooks which engageagainst the inner edges or shoulders K of the transverse portions of theend scams or ledges G. These hooks 35 secure the channel members to thetransverse ledge portions of the end seams, while the bottom wallsection 34 unites the members and thus holds the two juxtaposedcontainers B against separation.

The handle 21, with its bottom marginal edge portion and the adjacentflanges 26, 27 engaged in the inverted T-shaped space between the wallsections 33, 34 and lower legs 32, extends above the containers as shownin Figs. 1 and 3 where it is readily accessible for carrying the twotied together containers as a unitary package.

In the preferred form of the invention the handle 21 extends for nearlythe full length of the transverse portions of the ledges G, and carriesat each end one of the gripper elements 22 for engagement over thetransverse portions of the ledges G at a point closely adjacent thelongitudinally aligned portions of the ledges. When so utilized, thegripper elements 22 preferably are connected together by a bridge memberor connecting link 37 to retain them in properly spaced and endwisealigned relation at the bottom edge of the handle. For this purpose theconnecting link 37 preferably comprises a lateral extension orcontinuation of the channel member bottom wall section 34 and the lowerlegs 32'formed integrally therewith as best shown inFig. -So made theconnecting link 37 extends beneath the transverse container ledges G andassists in supporting the containers.

Where a flexible handle is desired for arrangement on top of thejuxtaposed containers B of the package to permit stacking of thepackages on top of each other, a cord, twine or ribbon handle 41 (Fig.4) is provided as a modified form of the invention. This modified formof handle 41 is made as a loop which extends above the containers withthe ends of the handle imbedded in the connecting link 37. In this formof the invention the lower legs 32 and the bottom wall portion 34 of thechannel members of the gripper elements 22 are squeezed together intight contact and the vertical wall sections 33 thereof are similarly intight contact, to securely hold the ends of the flexible handle 41 inplace on the connecting link 37.

Figures 5, 7 and 8 disclose a second modified form of the inventionwherein a single gripper element 22 is utilized to tie the juxtaposedcontainers B together in a unitary package. This modified gripperelement 22 is similar to that shown in the preferred form except thatthe handle 21 is a narrow double layer band of a width substantiallyequal to the width of the gripper element and the outer edges of theupper legs 31 of the gripper element channel members are depressed andbent under and back on themselves to produce a thin narrow hem 43 whichis engageable against the flat top H of the containers whilesimultaneously engaging against the inner edge or shoulder K of thetransverse container ledges G. These depressed and hemmed edges of thegripper elements 22 provides a broader base for the elements throughgreater contact with the containers and thereby increase the hold on thecontainers to better retain them in proper position against separation.

In a further modified form of the invention, as disclosed in Figs. 9,l0, l1 and 12, the structure of the gripper element 22 is modified tofirmly fit over a side seam portion (Fig. 11) of the containers B. Thebody of a container B preferably is made from a single flat blank whichis bent into tubular shape to produce the flat sides E of the body; theends of the blank being overlapped and secured together in one side E ofthe body to form the side seam 45 which holds the body together. In thisside E of the body there are two thicknesses of body material at theside seam and only one thickness on either side of the seam. This doublethickness of the seam extends through the necked-in portion F and theledge G of the body, and terminates at the shoulder K of the end seam.

Where a gripper element 22 engages the ledges G so as to extendpartially over the side seam 45, the double thickness of body materialin the seam is compensated for by a modified form of channel member inwhich the horizontal upper and lower legs are spread further apart inone portion than in an immediately adjacent portion'thereof. For thispurpose the legs and vertical wall section of each channel memberpreferably are cut through at right angles to the handle 21 to producetwo separate adjacent channel members extending from each side of thehandleas shown in Fig. 9.

One of these channel members is formed with the reg ular lower leg '32(Fig. 9) and a high vertical wall section 47 to accommodate a doublethickness ledge portion G at the side seam 45 as shown at the left inFig. 11. The upper edge of the vertical wall section 47 merges into ahorizontal upper leg 48 which extends over the side seam 45 andterminates in the described hook 35 for engagement against the shoulderK of the top layer of the side seam also shown in Fig. 11.

The adjacent channel member is formed to fit the single regularthickness ledge G immediately adjacent the side seam 45. However theregular upper and lower legs 31, 32 and their connecting vertical wallsection 33 are located as shown at the right in Fig. 11, at an elevationbetween the upper and lower legs 48, 32 of the adjacent channel memberto compensate for the extra thickness of the side seam. Compensating forthis thickness is effected by adding an extra thickness to a portion ofthe handle flange 27 for incorporation under the lower leg 32. For thispurposethe flange 27 is provided with a lateral extension 51 which isfolded upwardly and in wardly against the top of the flange to provide adouble layer portion as shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12.

Sincethe side seam 45 usually is located in the middle of one side E ofthe container, the seams in two juxtaposed containers B are preferablydisposed directly opposite each other but slightly offset laterally soas to locate the steps in the edges of the lapped seams in longitudinalalignment. To fit this situation the gripper elements 22 as modified aremade with the portions of the channel members for the regular singlethickness ledges G, extending from opposite sides of the handle 21 butin diagonal relation to each other and similarly, the two specialportions for the double thickness side seam sections of the ledges Gextend from opposite sides of the handle but in diagonal relation toeach other, as best shown in Fig. 9. In a similar manner each of theflanges 26, 27 of the handle 21 are formed with a double thicknessportion 51 as shown in Fig. 12 to properly elevate the regular singlethickness channel portions relative to the double thickness portions.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination a pair of independent rectangular containers having attheir upper ends laterally project ing peripheral ledges having verticalshoulders thereon, said containers being disposed in juxtaposed relationwith portions of said ledges arranged in transverse parallel relation,and gripper means clamped over and connecting adjacently opposedportions of said transverse parallel ledge portions for coupling saidcontainers together as a unitary package, said gripper means havingoppositely disposed integral downwardly turned hooks thereon forabutting engagement against said ledge shoulders to maintain the grippermeans in position on said containers.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said gripper meanscomprises a pair of opposed channel members arranged in juxtaposedrelation, each channel member having oppositely extending horizontallydisposed vertically spaced upper and lower legs connected by a verticalWall for tightly embracing opposed vertically spaced surfaces of saidtransverse ledges, and means connecting said channel members to securesaid containers in a unitary package.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the outer ends of thelower channel member legs are connected together by an integral bottomwall section extending in spaced relation beneath said lower legs.

4. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein saidgripper element is provided with a flat upstanding handle disposedbetween said vertical walls of said channel members and extending abovesaid containers for carrying them as a unitary package, said handlehaving oppositely extending lateral flanges at its lower end confinedbeneath said lower channel member legs.

5. A combination of the character defined in claim 4 wherein the outeredges of the lower horizontal legs of said channel members are connectedtogether by an integral bottom wall portion extending beneath andjoining said lower legs.

6. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein the outermarginal edge portion of said upper horizontal channel legs aredepressed and hemmed to extend over a shoulder on the inner edges ofsaid transverse ledges and to lie flat against the tops of saidjuxtaposed containers to provide a broad contacting base on said gripperelement to retain said containers in place against separation.

7. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 where a pluralityof said gripper elements are secured together in spaced relation forsimultaneous engagement along said transverse ledges of said containersto tie said containers together in a unitary package.

8. A combination of the character defined in claim 7 wherein saidgripper elements are tied together by a connecting link comprisingintegral extensions of the bottom wall section and the lower horizontallegs of said channel members.

9. A combination of the character defined in claim 8 wherein a flexiblehandle is connected to longitudinally spaced portions of said connectinglink for carrying said containers.

10. A combination of the character defined in claim 8 wherein a fiatupstanding handle is provided for carrying said containers and saidhandle is provided with oppositely and laterally extending coplanarflanges ex tending the full length of and secured within said connectinglink.

11. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein a portionof at least one of said channel members has its upper and lowerhorizontal legs spaced apart for engagement over a maximum layer sideseam portion of increased thickness on said transverse ledges and anadjacent channel member portion has its upper and lower horizontal legsspaced apart to a less degree for engagement over a minimum layerportion of said ledges adjacent said side seam portion to compensate forthe extra thickness of the side seam portion of a said container.

12. A combination of the character defined in claim 11 wherein a handlehaving laterally projecting flanges disposed beneath said lowerhorizontal channel legs is provided for carrying said containers, andwherein a portion of said flange underlying the lower leg of the portionof said channel member adapted to clamp over said reduced layer sectionof said ledges, is elevated relative to its adjacent portion tocompensate for the increased multiple layer thickness of the side seamportions of said transverse container ledge portions.

13. A unitary carrying package comprising a pair of juxtaposedrectangular containers having at their top ends laterally projectingperipheral ledges having vertical shoulders thereon, portions of saidledges being disposed in transverse parallel relation, and a grippermember clamped over adjacent opposed transverse parallel ledge portionsof said containers for coupling the containers together in said unitarypackage, said gripper member including a pair of oppositely disposedintegral downwardly turned hooks arranged in horizontally spacedparallel relation for abutting engagement of the free ends of said hooksagainst said vertical ledge shoulders to hold the gripper member inposition on said containers, and a handle secured to said gripper memberfor carrying said package.

14. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 13 wherein saidgripper member comprises a pair of oppositely facing channel membersarranged in juxtaposed relation and each including oppositely extendinghorizontally disposed vertically spaced upper and lower legs connectedby a vertical channel wall portion, Whereby said channel members aretightly engaged with vertically spaced surfaces of said transversecontainer ledge portions, and an integral horizontal wall portionconnected to said channel members and extending therebetween to securesaid containers as a unitary package, said handle having oppositelyextending lateral flanges at its lower end respectively confined betweensaid lower channel member legs and said connecting horizontal wallportion.

15. A carrying device of the character defined in claim 14 wherein theouter marginal edge portion of said upper horizontal channel member legsare depressed and hemmed to extend over a shoulder on the inner edges ofsaid transverse container ledge portions so as to lie flat against thetops of said containers to provide a broad contacting base on saidgripper means to retain said containers against separation.

16. A carrying device as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one ofsaid channel members contains a portion having its upper and lower legsspaced apart for engagement over a multiple layer side seam section ofsaid transverse ledges and further contains an adjacent portion havingits upper and lower legs spaced apart for engagement over a reducedlayer section of said ledges to compensate for the extra thickness of aside seam section in a container.

17. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 14 wherein saidhandle is disposed between said vertical wall portions of said channelmembers, said handle having oppositely and laterally extending coplanarflanges disposed between said bottom wall portion and said lowerhorizontal channel member legs for locking said handle in place on saidgripper member.

18. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 14 wherein aplurality of said gripper elements are provided in endwise aligned andspaced relation and are secured together for simultaneous engagementwith spaced portions of said transverse container ledges to tie thecontainers together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,200,849 Katzinger Oct. 10 1916 1,973,568 Keith Sept. 11, 19342,117,405 Curtis May 17, 1938 2,646,911 Holmberg July 28, 1953 2,680,040Gribskov June 1, 1954 2,709,618 Melville May 31, 1955

